FAQ's
The Engineering Division has a prioritized list that is used to determine what year your street is scheduled for paving, pending all necessary funding. This list was produced by a private consultant and then approved by the Board of Selectmen. A copy of this list can be viewed in the Engineering Division. General concerns regarding pothole repairs on your street should be directed to the Department of Public Works Highway Division at 781-942-9092 Monday through Friday, between the hours of 7 am and 3 pm.
A plot plan is prepared by a professional land surveyor, and typically depicts lot dimensions, survey information, and buildings found on your property. The Engineering Division has some plot plans from within the Town of Reading. Plot plans that cannot be found at our office can usually be found at the Middlesex County Registry of Deeds in Cambridge. Search their website.
A copy of your water and sewer service cards, showing the locations of each, can be obtained in the Engineering Division, located in the lower level of Town Hall.
Typically, a good indicator, as to when your house was built, is by determining when the water was first introduced onto your property. The Engineering Division can provide you with this information. The first water mains in Reading were installed circa 1890.
Yes, but only by a Licensed Drain Layer who is fully insured and bonded with the Town. Also, the homeowner must fill out a “Drain Release Form” along with a diagram showing where the drain line will be connected, and return them both to the Engineering Division before work can be started. A list of Licensed Drain Layers for the Town of Reading can be obtained by either going to the “Permits and Applications” section of this website or by stopping by the Engineering Division in the lower level of Town Hall.
Contact Dig Safe at 888-DIGSAFE (888-344-7233) or by visiting their website to request a mark out. After contacting Dig Safe, please contact the Engineering Division to locate any water, sewer, and drainage on your property. Typically, for non-emergency situations, we require at least 72 hours notice prior to any excavation. The Engineering Division can be reached by calling 781-942-9082, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30 am and 5 pm.
The Town of Reading Engineering Division has predetermined all of the house numbers for every street in town. Each 35 feet of street frontage has been given a number, which will be the number belonging to the building included in or embracing that frontage. If you are interested in obtaining a new address or changing your current address please contact the Town of Reading Engineering Division.
No. The Engineering Division does not typically recommend any surveyors. However, a list of surveyors that have previously done work within the Town can be obtained in the Engineering Division office. In addition to this list, surveyors can also be found in the Yellow Pages section of your telephone book.
As stated in the Town of Reading Driveway Rules and Regulations, all proposed driveways or modifications to existing driveways must be submitted for approval to the Department of Public Works Engineering Division. A sketch of the modification must be submitted indicating all trees, hydrants, poles, etc., as well as the gutter grade, property line grade, and proposed grades in sufficient detail to insure compliance with all Driveway Rules and Regulations. If the Engineering Division determines that all of the regulations are met, the proposed driveway alterations may be approved. Any granite curbing removed in the process of making these driveway modifications shall become the property of the Town of Reading. The Town of Reading Driveway Rules and Regulations can be obtained by either going to the “Driveway Construction and Street Opening” section of this website or by stopping by the Engineering Division in the lower level of Town Hall where a copy may be obtained.